Cotton Weediness
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TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO. 305 THE POTENTIAL WEEDINESS OF TRANSGENIC COTTON IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Agdex 151/607 $8.80 (GST included) ISBN 0 7245 4700 2 EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL WEEDINESS OF TRANSGENIC COTTON IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA A REPORT PREPARED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE OFFICE OF THE GENE TECHNOLOGY REGULATOR NOVEMBER 2002 By ROWENA EASTICK Weeds Agronomist DISCLAMER While all care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this Technical Bulletin is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of its information. The Northern Territory of Australia gives no warranty or assurance, and makes no representation as to the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this Technical Bulletin, or that it is suitable for your intended use. You should not rely upon information in this publication for the purpose of making any serious, business or investment decisions without obtaining independent and/or professional advice in relation to your particular situation. The Northern Territory of Australia disclaims any liability or responsibility or duty of care towards any person for loss or damage caused by any use of or reliance on the information contained in this publication. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to thank Stephen Yeates, Greg Constable, Colin Martin, Gary Fitt, and Danny Llewellyn for their professional guidance and Warren Muller and Mark Hearnden for statistical advice. The technical support from Matt Bolam, Nick Hartley, Heather Emmerson, Greg Aldrich, Uwe Pufke, Erica Eastick, Tony Postle, Ryan Berlowitz, Graham Schultz and the farm staff at Katherine Research Station and Frank Wise Institute, Kununurra, is appreciated. The author also gratefully acknowledges the support for the project from the CSIRO, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Monsanto, the Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development and the Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................. ix LIST OF PHOTOS.................................................................................................................................. xi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS................................................................................................. xiii PROJECT BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. xiv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................... xvii SECTION 1.............................................................................................................................................. 1 EXPERIMENT 1A: LARGE-SCALE ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT .................................................. 1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology..................................................................................................................................... 1 Site Description .............................................................................................................................. 13 Results and Discussion.................................................................................................................. 21 SECTION 2............................................................................................................................................ 30 EXPERIMENT 1B: LARGE SCALE ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: SECOND YEAR SELECTED SITES................................................................................................................................................. 30 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 30 Methodology................................................................................................................................... 30 Site Description .............................................................................................................................. 34 Results and Discussion.................................................................................................................. 36 SECTION 3............................................................................................................................................ 41 EXPERIMENT 2: COMPARISON OF GERMINATION OF THREE FORMS AND THREE GENOTYPES OF COTTONSEED WHEN BURIED OR LEFT ON THE SURFACE OF THE SOIL. 41 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 41 Methodology................................................................................................................................... 41 Results and Discussion.................................................................................................................. 41 SECTION 4............................................................................................................................................ 45 EXPERIMENT 3: SURVIVABILITY OF THREE FORMS OF COTTONSEED SUBJECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OVER A DRY SEASON............................................................. 45 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 45 Methodology................................................................................................................................... 45 Results and Discussion.................................................................................................................. 46 SECTION 5A ......................................................................................................................................... 48 EXPERIMENT 4: GENOTYPE VS NUTRITION INTERACTION ...................................................... 48 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 48 Methodology................................................................................................................................... 48 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 51 Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 55 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 56 SECTION 5B ......................................................................................................................................... 57 GENOTYPE VS NUTRITION VS INSECT EXCLOSURE INTERACTION ....................................... 57 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 57 Methodology................................................................................................................................... 57 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 57 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 58 SECTION 6............................................................................................................................................ 60 MONITORING NATURALISED COTTON POPULATIONS .............................................................. 60 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 60 Methodology and Results............................................................................................................... 61 Conclusion and Implications for Weediness .................................................................................. 73 v SECTION 7............................................................................................................................................ 77 CHARACTERISTICS OF VOLUNTEER TRANSGENIC COTTON................................................... 77 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 77 Methodology................................................................................................................................... 78 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 78 Conclusions and Implications for Weediness